Short answer: In 2026, the visa-free countries for Nepali passport holders that we could confirm on official government sources are India, Singapore, the Philippines, Barbados and Dominica. Maldives, Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Rwanda and Tanzania give a visa on arrival. Sri Lanka, Kenya and Seychelles let you in without a visa but need an online travel authorisation before you fly. Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam all need a visa before travel.
Most lists on this topic carry 30 to 40 country names copied from passport index websites. We started from the same lists, then checked each country against its own immigration department, foreign ministry or embassy. Some rows held up, some could not be confirmed, and a few turned out to be wrong for Nepali passports. This guide shows all three groups, so you know how sure we are about each one.
Every rule below was checked on 12 Oct 2026. Entry rules change, sometimes with only a few weeks' notice, so use this page as a starting point and confirm the official link for your destination close to your travel date. If you are still deciding where to go, our guide to the best travel destinations for Nepalese travellers compares the most popular trips from Kathmandu. This page covers the entry rules only. It does not cover application steps or visa costs. For those, use the Gomayu visa pages linked in each section, or the Gomayu visa services index.
Which countries are visa-free for Nepali passport holders in 2026?
Thirteen destinations let Nepali passport holders in without a visa arranged in advance, and every one of them is confirmed on an official government source. Five are fully visa-free, five give a visa on arrival, and three ask for an electronic travel authorisation before departure. These are the visa-free countries for Nepali passport holders that we are confident publishing as fact.
| Country | Entry type for Nepali passports | Maximum stay | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | No visa needed (exemption for Nepali citizens travelling from Nepal) | No fixed limit stated for Nepali citizens | Checked: 12 Oct 2026, Bureau of Immigration, India |
| Singapore | Visa-free (Nepal is not on the visa-required list); SG Arrival Card needed | Set by the officer at entry on your Visit Pass | Checked: 12 Oct 2026, ICA Singapore |
| Philippines | Visa-free | Up to 30 days | Checked: 12 Oct 2026, Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs |
| Barbados | Visa-free | Up to 90 days | Checked: 12 Oct 2026, Barbados Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa list (August 2022, latest published) |
| Dominica | Visa-free for genuine tourists with a return ticket | Up to 21 days | Checked: 12 Oct 2026, High Commission of Dominica, London |
| Maldives | Visa on arrival; IMUGA Traveller Declaration before arrival | Granted on arrival (the official page does not state a fixed number of days) | Checked: 12 Oct 2026, Maldives Immigration |
| Cambodia | Visa on arrival at international airports and listed border posts; e-Arrival card | Tourist visa: 30 days, single entry | Checked: 12 Oct 2026, Royal Embassy of Cambodia, Paris |
| Timor-Leste | Visa on arrival at official border posts | 30 days, extendable once | Checked: 12 Oct 2026, Migration Service of Timor-Leste |
| Rwanda | Visa on arrival (open to citizens of all countries) | 30 days single entry, or 90 days multiple entry | Checked: 12 Oct 2026, Rwanda Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration |
| Tanzania | Visa on arrival, or an online visa before travel | Ordinary visa: up to 90 days | Checked: 12 Oct 2026, Tanzania Immigration Services Department |
| Sri Lanka | ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) before arrival | 30 days, double entry | Checked: 12 Oct 2026, Sri Lanka Department of Immigration and Emigration (ETA) |
| Kenya | eTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) before the journey starts | Set at the point of entry; the eTA is valid for travel within 90 days of issue | Checked: 12 Oct 2026, Embassy of Kenya, Washington DC and eTA Kenya |
| Seychelles | Visitor's permit on arrival; Travel Authorisation before departure | Visitor's permit up to 3 months, extendable | Checked: 12 Oct 2026, Seychelles Immigration and Civil Status |
The Henley Passport Index, the best-known passport ranking, counts more destinations than this for Nepal. Its published index data, retrieved on 12 Oct 2026, places the Nepali passport 100th for 2026 with 34 destinations counted as accessible without a visa in advance: 12 visa-free, 19 visa on arrival and 3 electronic travel authorisation. We could confirm 13 of those 34 on official sources. Two of them are contradicted by official sources, one has conflicting official information, and 18 we could not confirm either way. Those groups are listed further down, so nothing is hidden.
| Group | Number | Countries |
|---|---|---|
| Confirmed on official sources (table above) | 13 | India, Singapore, Philippines, Barbados, Dominica, Maldives, Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Rwanda, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Seychelles |
| Index says visa-free or on arrival, but an official source says a visa is needed in advance | 2 | Mozambique, The Gambia |
| Official sources conflict | 1 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
| Could not confirm on an official source: confirm before booking | 18 | Bangladesh, Laos, Pakistan, Egypt, Mauritius, Madagascar, Senegal, Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Micronesia, Palau, Samoa, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, Niue |
Checked: 12 Oct 2026, Henley Passport Index for the 34 index destinations and the rank; official sources as listed in each table for the status.
Before any trip, also check your passport itself. A passport with less than six months left is the most common reason a "visa-free" trip goes wrong at check-in. Our Nepal e-passport guide covers validity and renewal timing.
What is the difference between visa-free, visa on arrival and an eTA?
Visa-free means you need no visa at all. Visa on arrival means you get the visa at the airport or border when you land. An eTA or ETA is an online authorisation you must hold before you board. An e-visa is a full visa, issued online, and also needed before you fly. The words sound similar, but they decide whether you can turn up with only a passport or whether you need approval days or weeks ahead.
| Term | What it means | When you deal with it | Example for Nepali passports |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa-free | No visa of any kind for a short tourist stay | Only at the immigration desk on arrival | Philippines, Singapore |
| No visa needed by agreement | A special arrangement between two countries | Show proof of nationality when you travel | India |
| Visa on arrival | The visa is issued when you land, at the airport or border post | On arrival, after you reach the counter | Maldives, Cambodia, Rwanda |
| eTA or ETA | An electronic travel authorisation linked to your passport, not a visa | Online, before you board | Sri Lanka, Kenya, Seychelles |
| e-visa | A full visa applied for and issued online | Online, before you board | Vietnam, Thailand |
| Arrival card or declaration | An online form about you and your trip; not a visa and does not replace one | Online, usually a few days before arrival | SG Arrival Card, Thailand Digital Arrival Card, Maldives IMUGA declaration |
The practical difference is timing. With visa-free entry and a visa on arrival, the decision happens at the destination. With an eTA or e-visa, the decision happens before your flight, and the airline will usually not let you board without it. Kenya's eTA guidance, for example, says every visitor, including infants, must hold an approved eTA before the start of the journey.
The second difference is discretion. Visa-free does not mean automatic entry: the immigration officer still decides whether to admit you, and a visa on arrival is a visa you have not been given yet. For a gentle first trip abroad, read our first-time flight tips before travel day.
Which Asian countries can Nepalis visit without a visa in advance?
In Asia, Nepali passport holders can go to India, Singapore and the Philippines without a visa, to the Maldives, Cambodia and Timor-Leste with a visa on arrival, and to Sri Lanka with an ETA. Those seven are confirmed on official sources. Bangladesh, Laos and Pakistan appear on index lists but could not be confirmed, so treat them as "confirm before booking".
India: no visa needed for Nepali citizens
Nepali citizens entering India by land or air from Nepal do not need a passport or an Indian visa, according to India's Bureau of Immigration. They must carry a government-approved document showing their nationality, with a photo, name, date of birth, issuing authority and validity. There are two exceptions to know. A passport and an Indian visa are required if you enter India from China, Macau, Hong Kong or Pakistan, and you need a valid passport when travelling between India and any place other than Nepal.
That second point matters for multi-country trips. If you fly Kathmandu to Delhi and back, the exemption covers you. If you fly Kathmandu to Hong Kong and then on to India, it does not. The rule was carried forward in the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 2025, reported by India's public broadcaster on 3 Sep 2025. For entry details, see our India visa details, and for planning, the India travel guide.
Checked: 12 Oct 2026, Bureau of Immigration, India; All India Radio News.
Singapore: visa-free with the SG Arrival Card
Nepal is not on Singapore's list of countries whose travel document holders need a visa. That list, published by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), includes countries such as India, Bangladesh and Pakistan, but not Nepal. So Nepali passport holders enter Singapore without a visa.
Two things still apply. First, the SG Arrival Card, an ICA e-Service where visitors submit personal and trip details before arrival. Second, the length of stay is not fixed in advance: ICA says the period of stay is set on the Visit Pass issued at the checkpoint. Visitors who need longer can request an extension online through ICA, and ICA decides the outcome. See our Singapore visa details and the Singapore travel guide. If you are connecting through the airport, our guide to Singapore Changi Airport helps with transfers.
Checked: 12 Oct 2026, ICA visa requirements; ICA short stay extension; SG Arrival Card.
Philippines: visa-free for up to 30 days
Nepal is on the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs list of countries whose nationals may enter the Philippines without a visa for a stay of up to 30 days, for business or tourism. The list sits under Executive Order No. 408. The conditions on the same page are a valid return ticket and a passport valid for at least six months beyond the planned stay.
Many Nepali travellers assume the Philippines needs a visa. For short stays, it does not. See our Philippines visa details and the Philippines travel guide.
Checked: 12 Oct 2026, Philippine Consulate General, Manado (Department of Foreign Affairs).
Maldives: visa on arrival with the IMUGA declaration
Maldives Immigration says foreigners travelling as tourists do not need pre-approval for the visa: it is granted on arrival. Every traveller, including children, must submit the Traveller Declaration on the IMUGA portal within 96 hours before arrival. The official page does not state a fixed number of days for the tourist visa, so we have not printed one.
The Maldives has stricter entry conditions than most visa-on-arrival countries. The official page lists:
- A machine-readable passport with at least one month's validity. Passports with extended validity are not accepted.
- A complete itinerary, including a confirmed return ticket.
- A prepaid, confirmed booking at a registered tourist facility.
- Enough money for the stay, or an approved sponsorship.
- A yellow fever vaccination certificate if you arrive from, or recently travelled through, a country where it is required.
The page also notes that even a complete itinerary does not guarantee entry. See our Maldives visa details and the Maldives travel guide.
Checked: 12 Oct 2026, Maldives Immigration; IMUGA Traveller Declaration.
Sri Lanka: ETA before you fly
Sri Lanka requires all foreign nationals to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before arriving, with limited exceptions for some diplomatic and official passport holders. Nepal is one of 40 countries in a special group under a scheme that took effect on 25 May 2026, which gives a 30-day tourist ETA with double entry. On the second entry, only the balance of the 30 days is granted.
The common mistake is to read news about the May 2026 change and think Sri Lanka became visa-free for Nepalis. It did not. The ETA is still required before arrival. See our Sri Lanka visa details and the Sri Lanka travel guide.
Checked: 12 Oct 2026, Sri Lanka ETA information.
Cambodia: visa on arrival
Cambodia issues visas on arrival at its international airports, including Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville, and at listed land border posts and sea ports. The tourist visa is single entry for a short stay of 30 days. The Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Paris names a small group of nationalities that must get their visa from an embassy in advance. Nepal is not in that group. Since 1 Sep 2024, travellers are also asked to complete a Cambodia e-Arrival card before the trip.
Cambodia has no non-stop flight from Kathmandu, so you will connect, usually through Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur. Both have non-stop flights from Kathmandu. Gomayu does not have a dedicated Cambodia visa page, so confirm with the embassy before you book.
Checked: 12 Oct 2026, Royal Embassy of Cambodia, Paris.
Timor-Leste: visa on arrival
Timor-Leste's Migration Service issues tourist visas on arrival at official air, land and sea border posts where it has staff. The stay is 30 days, and it can be extended once for the same period. Travellers who were previously refused entry, removed, or who have unpaid fines must get a visa before arriving. It is a long trip from Nepal, but a real option for travellers already in Southeast Asia.
Checked: 12 Oct 2026, Migration Service of Timor-Leste.
Asian countries on index lists that we could not confirm
These three appear on passport index lists for Nepal, but we could not confirm the current rule on an official government page. Do not book on the strength of an index list alone.
| Country | What index lists say | What we found on 12 Oct 2026 | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh | Visa on arrival | A 2022 news report quoted a Bangladesh tourism official announcing visa on arrival for Nepali tourists. We found no official page confirming the current rule. | Confirm before booking |
| Laos | Visa on arrival, also e-visa | The official Lao eVisa portal confirms a 30-day stay on its eVisa, but its list of eligible countries did not load, so we could not confirm Nepal. | Confirm before booking |
| Pakistan | Visa-free | No official page reviewed. | Confirm before booking |
Checked: 12 Oct 2026, Lao eVisa FAQ; Henley Passport Index.
Which countries in Africa, the Americas and Oceania are visa-free or visa on arrival for Nepalis?
Outside Asia, we confirmed six destinations on official sources: Kenya (eTA), Rwanda and Tanzania (visa on arrival), Seychelles (travel authorisation), and Barbados and Dominica (visa-free). This is also where index lists are least reliable. Official sources contradict two index entries, conflict on a third, and give no confirmation for most of the Pacific islands.
Kenya: eTA before the journey
Kenya uses an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) for visitors. Every visitor, including infants and children, must have an approved eTA before starting the journey. Nepal is not on Kenya's exemption lists, which cover East African Community neighbours and named groups of other countries. The eTA is valid for travel within 90 days of issue, and the length of stay is decided at the point of entry.
For safari planning, see our Kenya visa details, the Kenya travel guide and our round-up of the best safari destinations.
Checked: 12 Oct 2026, Embassy of Kenya, Washington DC; eTA Kenya.
Rwanda: visa on arrival for all nationalities
Rwanda's Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration says citizens of all countries can get a visa on arrival without applying in advance, a policy in place since 1 Jan 2018. The tourist visa issued at the border is valid for 30 days for a single entry, or 90 days for multiple entries. Rwanda gives some nationalities special terms, such as African Union members and East African Community citizens. Nepal is not in those groups, so the standard tourist visa applies.
Checked: 12 Oct 2026, Rwanda visa on arrival; Rwanda visitors visa.
Tanzania: visa on arrival or online
Tanzania's official visa guidelines name Nepal among the nationalities eligible for both an online visa and a visa on arrival at an official entry point. The ordinary single-entry tourist visa is valid for up to 90 days. Tanzania itself recommends the online route over queuing on arrival. For Serengeti, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar planning, read the Tanzania travel guide.
Checked: 12 Oct 2026, Tanzania Immigration visa guidelines.
Seychelles: travel authorisation before departure
Seychelles grants visitors a visitor's permit on arrival rather than asking for a visa in advance, but every visitor must hold a valid Electronic Travel Authorisation before leaving their country of origin. The visitor's permit is granted for up to three months at first, and can be extended in periods of up to three months, to a total of twelve months.
Checked: 12 Oct 2026, Seychelles Immigration; Seychelles Travel Authorisation.
Barbados and Dominica: visa-free in the Caribbean
The latest Barbados visa list we found, published by the Barbados Ministry of Foreign Affairs in August 2022, shows "No Visa required" for Nepali nationals entering Barbados, with a maximum stay of 90 days. Dominica allows genuine tourists with a return ticket to enter without a visa for up to 21 days, according to the High Commission of Dominica in London.
Both are long trips from Nepal, and practical routes pass through North America or Europe, where Nepali passport holders need visas or transit permission. They count towards the list, but they are rarely as easy as they look on paper.
Checked: 12 Oct 2026, Barbados visa list; Dominica High Commission.
Where index lists and official sources disagree
This is the section most competitor lists miss. For three countries, the official source does not match what passport index sites say for Nepal.
| Country | Index lists say | Official source says | Our status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mozambique | Visa on arrival | The official Mozambique eVisa portal says travellers from Nepal cannot use the eVisa portal and should request a visa at the nearest embassy. | Treat as visa needed in advance |
| The Gambia | Visa-free | The visa list published by the Embassy of The Gambia in Brussels (uploaded 2019, the latest official list we found) puts Nepal under countries that need both a visa and clearance. | Treat as visa needed in advance; confirm with the embassy |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Visa-free | A Saint Vincent foreign ministry page published in 2011 lists Nepal among nationalities with visa restrictions. A newer list is referred to but could not be opened. | Confirm before booking |
Checked: 12 Oct 2026, Mozambique National Immigration Service eVisa; Embassy of The Gambia visa list; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Other destinations on index lists that we could not confirm
Fifteen more destinations in Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean and the Pacific appear on index lists for Nepal. For most of them we could not reach a working official page that names Nepal or covers all nationalities. A few have such limited flight links that we could not check them fully. We list them for completeness, not as advice.
| Region | Destinations (index status) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Africa and Middle East | Egypt (on arrival), Mauritius (on arrival), Madagascar (on arrival), Senegal (visa-free), Burundi (on arrival), Comoros (on arrival), Djibouti (on arrival), Guinea-Bissau (on arrival) | Confirm before booking |
| Caribbean | Haiti (visa-free) | Confirm before booking; also check your government's travel advice |
| Pacific | Micronesia (visa-free), Cook Islands (visa-free), Palau (on arrival), Samoa (on arrival), Tuvalu (on arrival), Niue (on arrival) | Confirm before booking |
Checked: 12 Oct 2026, Henley Passport Index for the index status; no official confirmation found for these rows.
The Pacific islands have a second problem. Getting there usually means connecting through Australia, New Zealand or the United States, and each of those has its own visa or transit rules for Nepali passports. A visa-free island can still be out of reach if the connection is not.
Which popular destinations still need a visa before you fly?
Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam, the four most-booked Southeast Asian holidays from Kathmandu, all need a visa arranged before travel for Nepali passport holders. So do Japan, Hong Kong, the UK, the United States and Canada. None of these offers visa-free entry or a visa on arrival to ordinary Nepali passports.
| Country | What Nepali passport holders need | Arrival form | Checked | Gomayu page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand | Visa before travel (e-Visa); Nepal is on neither the exemption list nor the visa on arrival list | Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) | Checked: 12 Oct 2026, Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Royal Thai Embassy, Kathmandu | Thailand visa details |
| Malaysia | Visa before travel; Nepal is on the visa-required list | Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) | Checked: 12 Oct 2026, Immigration Department of Malaysia | Malaysia visa details |
| Indonesia (Bali) | Visa before travel; Nepal is not on the visa on arrival list | Check before travel | Checked: 12 Oct 2026, Directorate General of Immigration (Yogyakarta office), Indonesia e-Visa | Indonesia visa details |
| Vietnam | e-visa before travel, up to 90 days, single or multiple entry (open to all nationalities since 15 Aug 2023) | None listed | Checked: 12 Oct 2026, Embassy of Vietnam, USA | Vietnam visa details |
| Japan | Visa before travel; Nepal is not on Japan's visa exemption list | None listed | Checked: 12 Oct 2026, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan | Japan visa details |
| Hong Kong | Visa required for ordinary passports | None listed | Checked: 12 Oct 2026, Hong Kong Immigration Department | None |
| United Kingdom | Visa before travel; Nepal is on the visa national list | None listed | Checked: 12 Oct 2026, GOV.UK Immigration Rules | None |
| United States | Visa before travel; Nepal is not a Visa Waiver Program country | None listed | Checked: 12 Oct 2026, US Department of State | None |
| Canada | Visitor visa (an eTA is not enough) | None listed | Checked: 12 Oct 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada | None |
Several other popular destinations also show as visa-required for Nepal in Henley's index data, checked on 12 Oct 2026: China, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Macao and the Schengen countries of Europe, such as France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland. We could not open each official page today, so confirm with the embassy before you plan. For China, see our China visa details. For Europe, our guide to planning a Europe trip from Nepal explains the Schengen area.
For the UAE, the official UAE government portal says people who are not eligible for visa on arrival or visa-free entry need a tourist visa arranged in advance through a sponsor, such as a UAE airline, hotel or travel agent. It also says UAE embassies do not issue tourist visas. Henley lists the UAE as an online visa destination for Nepal. If Dubai is a stopover rather than a destination, our Dubai stopover guide covers what to know. Checked: 12 Oct 2026, UAE Government portal.
Thailand changed its entry rules on 15 September 2026
Thailand revised its visa exemption and visa on arrival schemes for ordinary passports from 15 Sep 2026. The Thai foreign ministry summary, dated 31 Aug 2026, groups countries by length of stay, and Nepal is not on any list. Before that change, Nepal was already outside both schemes, and since 1 Jan 2025 the Royal Thai Embassy in Kathmandu has used the online e-Visa platform for Nepali applicants.
Separately, Thailand requires all non-Thai nationals to submit the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC). It can be submitted within the three days before your travel date, according to a Royal Thai Embassy page. Older blog posts that call Thailand "visa on arrival for Nepalis" are out of date. Use the Thailand travel guide for planning, and see our guide to the Kathmandu to Bangkok flight for the route itself.
Checked: 12 Oct 2026, Thai MFA summary of the 2026 revision; Royal Thai Embassy, Kathmandu; Royal Thai Embassy, Buenos Aires (TDAC).
Vietnam: e-visa, not visa-free
Vietnam's e-visa has been open to citizens of all countries and territories since 15 Aug 2023. It allows stays of up to 90 days, single or multiple entry. That makes Vietnam one of the easier visa-before-travel destinations, but it is still a visa you must hold before you fly. The e-visa page lists the airports and border gates where it can be used. The Vietnam travel guide covers the main routes once you land.
Checked: 12 Oct 2026, Embassy of Vietnam, USA.
What do airlines and immigration check even when no visa is needed?
Even for a visa-free country, your airline in Kathmandu and the immigration officer on arrival will usually look at four things: passport validity, a return or onward ticket, where you are staying, and whether you completed any required arrival form. Missing one of these can stop a trip, whatever the visa rule says.
| Check | What is usually asked | Examples from official sources |
|---|---|---|
| Passport validity | Six months beyond your stay is the safe rule | Philippines: six months beyond the planned stay. Maldives: at least one month, and passports with extended validity are not accepted. |
| Return or onward ticket | A confirmed ticket out of the country | Philippines, Maldives and Dominica all name a return ticket as a condition of entry. |
| Accommodation | A booking or an address for your stay | Maldives: a prepaid, confirmed booking at a registered tourist facility. |
| Money for the stay | Enough funds for the length of your trip | Maldives: sufficient funds or an approved sponsorship. |
| Arrival forms | An online form before landing | SG Arrival Card (Singapore), IMUGA Traveller Declaration (Maldives), TDAC (Thailand), e-Arrival card (Cambodia), MDAC (Malaysia). |
| Pre-travel authorisation | Approval linked to your passport before boarding | Sri Lanka ETA, Kenya eTA, Seychelles Travel Authorisation. |
| Health | Vaccination certificates in specific cases | Maldives: yellow fever certificate if arriving from, or recently through, a risk country. |
| Next destination | Proof you can enter where you go next | Maldives: meet the entry requirements of your next destination. |
Our pre-trip checklist turns these into a timeline you can start two months out, and our best travel apps round-up helps you keep bookings and arrival forms on your phone.
The checks start before you leave Nepal. At Tribhuvan International Airport, the airline checks your passport and tickets at check-in, and Nepal immigration checks you on departure. Our Kathmandu airport international departure guide explains each step. Two more things to sort before travel day:
- Foreign currency. There are limits on how much foreign currency you can take out of Nepal. Our guide to the foreign currency limit from Nepal explains them.
- Insurance. Some countries and airlines expect travel insurance, and it is sensible everywhere. See our guide to travel insurance from Nepal.
Coming home with shopping? Check the Nepal customs allowance before you buy.
Transit is the last trap. A visa-free destination can still need a visa somewhere along the way. India's own rule shows how this works: a Nepali citizen who reaches India from China, Macau, Hong Kong or Pakistan needs a passport and an Indian visa, even though direct travel from Nepal needs neither. Before you book a connection, ask the airline whether your passport needs a transit visa at the connecting airport.
How do you double-check a country's rule before you book?
Check the destination's own immigration website, then the embassy that covers Nepal, then your airline, in that order, within a few weeks of travel. Passport index sites and blogs, including this one, are useful for a first shortlist, but they are not the authority that will stamp your passport.
- Start with the official immigration portal. Look for a government domain, such as .gov.sg, .gov.mv, .gov.lk or .gov.ph. The table below lists the official pages we used.
- Read the date. Rules change. Sri Lanka changed its ETA scheme on 25 May 2026, and Thailand revised its exemption lists on 15 Sep 2026. If a page or post does not say when it was checked, treat it with caution.
- Check the embassy covering Nepal. Many countries have an embassy in Kathmandu. Others cover Nepal from New Delhi or elsewhere.
- Ask your airline. The airline decides whether you board, so its view on your passport and route matters on the day.
- Avoid look-alike websites. Many private sites copy the design of government e-visa and arrival card portals. Use only the government domain.
- Check again a week before you fly. If anything changed, you still have time to adjust.
| Destination | Official source used in this guide |
|---|---|
| India | boi.gov.in |
| Singapore | ica.gov.sg |
| Philippines | dfa.gov.ph |
| Maldives | immigration.gov.mv |
| Sri Lanka | eta.gov.lk |
| Kenya | etakenya.go.ke |
| Rwanda | migration.gov.rw |
| Tanzania | visa.immigration.go.tz |
| Seychelles | ics.gov.sc |
| Timor-Leste | migracao.gov.tl |
| Thailand | kathmandu.thaiembassy.org |
| Malaysia | imi.gov.my |
| Vietnam | Embassy of Vietnam, USA (official portal: evisa.gov.vn) |
| Indonesia | evisa.imigrasi.go.id |
One more point for the diaspora. Everything in this guide applies to Nepali passports only. If you are a Non-Resident Nepali travelling on a foreign passport, your entry rules come from that passport, not your Nepali heritage. A family travelling together on different passports may need different paperwork for the same trip, so check each passport separately.
Which visa-free or on-arrival trips work best from Kathmandu?
For most Nepali travellers, the easiest trips that need no visa in advance are India, Sri Lanka (with an ETA), Singapore and the Maldives. All four are short flights from Kathmandu, and three have non-stop service. The Philippines is the best longer option, and Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania suit safari travellers who are happy to connect.
| Destination | Entry type | From Kathmandu | Works well for |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | No visa needed | Non-stop to Delhi and other Indian cities; about 1 to 2 hours to nearby Indian cities | Families, pilgrims, first trips, short breaks |
| Sri Lanka | ETA before travel | Non-stop to Colombo, about 3 h 35 min | Couples, families, culture and beach trips |
| Singapore | Visa-free; SG Arrival Card | Non-stop to Changi, about 5 h 10 min | Families with children, first-timers, city breaks |
| Maldives | Visa on arrival; IMUGA | One stop; Colombo is the shortest connection | Honeymooners, couples |
| Philippines | Visa-free up to 30 days | One stop, via Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Hong Kong or Guangzhou | Island hoppers, divers, longer trips |
| Cambodia | Visa on arrival | One stop, usually via Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur | Temple and heritage trips, add-on to Thailand or Vietnam |
| Kenya | eTA before travel | One stop via the Gulf (Doha, Dubai, Sharjah or Abu Dhabi), about 10 hours of flying | Safari travellers, families with older children |
| Rwanda and Tanzania | Visa on arrival (Tanzania also online) | One or more connections | Safari, gorilla trekking, Zanzibar beaches |
Routes and flying times come from our guide to direct flights from Kathmandu, checked on 8 Oct 2026. Hong Kong and Guangzhou connections to the Philippines are only practical if your passport and ticket meet the transit rules at those airports, so check with the airline first.
For first-timers: India and Singapore are the gentlest start. Singapore in particular is clean, well signposted and easy with children. For couples: the Maldives and Sri Lanka lead our list of honeymoon destinations from Nepal, and Sri Lanka's ETA is usually the only pre-trip step. For festival travel: Dashain and Tihar are peak travel weeks out of Kathmandu, so if you are travelling then, sort the ETA, arrival forms and passport validity early. Our guide to Dashain and Tihar holidays abroad compares destinations for that window. For safari: Kenya needs the eTA before travel, while Tanzania and Rwanda give a visa on arrival.
Frequently asked questions
How many countries are visa-free for Nepali passport holders?
Henley Passport Index data, checked on 12 Oct 2026, counts 34 destinations for Nepali passports that need no visa in advance: 12 visa-free, 19 visa on arrival and 3 travel authorisation. We confirmed 13 of them on official government sources. Two are contradicted by official sources, and the rest should be confirmed before booking.
Is Thailand visa-free for Nepali citizens?
No. Thailand is not visa-free for Nepali citizens. Nepal is on neither Thailand's visa exemption list nor its visa on arrival list, including the revised lists in force from 15 September 2026. Nepali passport holders need a Thai e-Visa before travel, plus the Thailand Digital Arrival Card. See Gomayu's Thailand visa details page for more.
Do Nepalis need a visa for India?
No. Nepali citizens entering India by land or air from Nepal need neither a passport nor an Indian visa, according to India's Bureau of Immigration. They must carry a government document proving Nepali nationality. A passport and Indian visa are required if they enter India from China, Macau, Hong Kong or Pakistan.
Is Maldives visa on arrival for Nepalis?
Yes. Maldives Immigration grants tourist visas on arrival without pre-approval. Nepali travellers must still submit the IMUGA Traveller Declaration within 96 hours before arrival. They also need a passport with at least one month's validity (not an extended passport), a confirmed return ticket, a prepaid booking at a registered property and enough funds for the stay.
Is Sri Lanka visa-free for Nepalis in 2026?
No. Sri Lanka still requires an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before arrival for Nepali passport holders. Nepal is in a group of 40 countries covered by a scheme that took effect on 25 May 2026, giving a 30-day tourist ETA with double entry. The change did not remove the need for the ETA itself.
Can Nepali passport holders visit the Philippines without a visa?
Yes. The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs lists Nepal among countries whose nationals may enter without a visa for up to 30 days, for tourism or business. Nepali travellers need a valid return ticket and a passport valid for at least six months beyond the planned stay.
What is the Nepali passport rank in 2026?
Henley Passport Index data, retrieved on 12 Oct 2026, places the Nepali passport 100th for 2026, with 34 destinations counted as accessible without a visa in advance. Henley updates the index during the year, so earlier news reports quoted slightly different positions. Always check the date of any ranking you read.
Does visa on arrival mean I can just show up?
Not quite. A visa on arrival is still a visa, and the immigration officer decides whether to issue it. Countries such as the Maldives expect a return ticket, a hotel booking and enough money, plus an online declaration before arrival. Cambodia asks for an e-Arrival card. Prepare these before you leave Kathmandu.
Do I need a return ticket for a visa-free country?
Usually, yes. The Philippines, the Maldives and Dominica all name a return or onward ticket as an entry condition, and airlines in Kathmandu may ask to see one at check-in. Keep a confirmed return booking on your phone and as a printout.
Which visa-free country is closest to Nepal?
India is the closest. Nepali citizens can travel there by road or air from Nepal without a passport or visa, carrying proof of Nepali nationality instead. Non-stop flights from Kathmandu reach nearby Indian cities in about 1 to 2 hours. Sri Lanka, reached non-stop in about 3.5 hours, is the nearest country that needs only an ETA.
Bina visa kun kun desh jana milcha?
On official sources, Nepali passport holders can go without a visa in advance to India, Singapore, the Philippines, Barbados and Dominica. Visa on arrival is available in the Maldives, Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Rwanda and Tanzania. Sri Lanka, Kenya and Seychelles need an online authorisation before travel. Check each official site before booking.
